Earlier today, Wednesday, 11 September, with South African National Parks Week in full swing, the ground staff and cleaning ladies of Union Pre-School, Union Preparatory School and Union High School were treated to a special picnic at the viewing deck at the parking area of the Valley of Desolation in the Camdeboo National Park to thank them for their hard work and contribution to the efficient running of the school.
A bench dedicated to the memory of Jenni Wiggill (6 December 1959 – 5 December 2018) has recently been added to the Union High School campus.
The bench was donated to the Union Schools by the friends and family of Jenni Wiggill, as well as the Class of 1977.
The bench is situated in the shade of a tree, between the Union High School’s AstroTurf and the adjacent tennis courts.
Union’s cricketers will soon benefit from improved training facilities as all of the lanes at the cricket training nets are currently being fitted with new top-of-the-range carpets.
We hope this investment in our training facilities will lead to an outcome players, parents and the wider community will be very proud of in the cricket seasons to come.
Union High School proudly celebrated Arbor Week with the planting of a tree (adding even more beauty to the educational facility) during a special assembly early this morning, Friday, 6 September.
This special event is held every year at Union during the first week of September, to celebrate South Africa’s trees and raise awareness of their importance and need for the conservation of indigenous trees that are threatened by extinction.
During his address to the learners, headmaster Mr William Pringle gave a brief history of Arbor Week, whereafter he spoke to the learners about the importance of planting trees, the role of trees in our daily lives and how they benefit the environment.
As the school is committed to planting indigenous trees, Union chose to plant the celtis africana, commonly known as the White Stinkwood or Camdeboo Stinkwood, for the occasion.
The Camdeboo Stinkwood is an indigenous deciduous tree that can grow to between 7 and 12 metres in height. It is hardy, frost tolerant and drought resistant. It attracts many birds like Rameron pigeons, willow warblers, black-eyed bulbuls, mousebirds and crested barbets that feed on the fruits and disperse the seeds. It is also a haven for insects.
It is hoped that Union’s annual Arbor Week celebrations will inspire a custodianship of the country’s natural resources in the learners and that they will come to see the trees as natural treasures.
May the newest addition to Union’s tree population provide shade and aesthetic value for generations to come!
Union’s u/13 and u/11 tennis players enjoyed a wonderful day’s tennis against Woodridge College at their campus near Thornhill just outside Port Elizabeth.
Union played well to emerge victorious in both age groups.
Well done to all the players!
Six Union biathletes travelled through to Port Elizabeth on Saturday (7 September) to participate in the 2nd league event for the season. This outing saw us welcoming another 2 newcomers, Mack Rubidge and Elia Railton to the team. Jade Shires and Elia Railton are to be congratulated on a fine start to their season, while some of the boys have certainly left room for improvement.
We eagerly await the announcement of the EP team selections for the upcoming interprovincial event, to see if any of our athletes have managed to qualify on the back of one league event.
I would like to thank all the learners that were on the bus for being so willing and eager to get involved in helping change the tyre on the bus after an unfortunate blowout on the return journey.
On Thursday morning, 29 August, Union’s 1st XIs embarked on an exciting cricket tour to Port Elizabeth to attend Pearson High School’s annual Home & Equity Cricket Festival.This proved to be an amazing tour for the young Union side as they played excellent cricket, producing some wonderful results while doing so.
Over the course of the four days, Union managed to win 2 out of their 4 fixtures.
Despite their losses, they showcased outstanding cricket skills, with some of the cricketers racking up very impressive individual results. The four 50’s and one 5-wicket haul recorded, bears testament to the quality cricket that the boys played throughout the weekend. To top it all off, their efforts on the field were backed up by a tremendously positive team spirit and a ‘never say die’ attitude.
An individual performance of note, was that of James Pienaar. James took 8 wickets and scored 40 runs in the declaration match against Marlow, earning him the festival’s all-rounder award.
The respective results for the four matches played during the festival, are as follows:
• In the team’s first match at the festival, Thursday’s T20 against Muir College, Muir batted first and scored 152 for 6.
Union’s best bowlers were Matthew Hesslink (2 for 30), Brett Amsterdam (2 for 32) and Jaden Brotherton (2 for 24).
Union then went in to bat and managed to score 129 for 2 in the 20 overs. Union’s best batsmen were Kyle-Luke du Preez (67 not out) and Brett Amsterdam (33 not out).
Union lost by 23 runs
Kyle-Luke du Preez was voted man of the match.
• In Friday’s declaration match against Marlow Agricultural High School, Union batted first and scored 251 for 7.
The best batsmen were Jaden Brotherton (82), Brett Amsterdam (45) and James Pienaar (40).
Union then managed to bowl Marlow out for 79.
The best bowlers were James Pienaar (5 for 11) and Brett Amsterdam (4 for 29).
Union then proceeded with their second innings, scoring 50 for 2 before declaring and sending Marlow in to bat needing to take 5 wickets for an outright win.
Marlow went in to bat and lost their five wickets for 25 runs.
Union’s best bowlers were James Pienaar (3 for 19) and Lihle Mxhunyelwa (2 for 5).
Union won the match by 197 runs.
James Pienaar was voted man of the match.
• Saturday’s 50-over match against Westering High School saw Westering batting first and scoring 155 for 8.
Union’s best bowler was Jaden Brotherton (3 for 24).
Union then went in to bat and passed the score with 4 wickets down.
The best batsmen were Kyle-Luke du Preez (52), Jaden Brotherton (29), Khwezi Simon (23) and Brett Amsterdam (20).
Union won the match by 6 wickets.
Kyle-Luke du Preez was voted man of the match.
• In Union’s last match of the festival, Sunday’s 50-over match against Graeme College, Graeme batted first and scored 307 for 5.
Brett Amsterdam, Rogan Odendaal and Lihle Mxhunyelwa each took one wicket.
Union then went in to bat and scored 145 all out.
Jaden Brotherton (67) was Union’s best batsmen.
Union lost the match by 162 runs.
Jaden Brotherton was voted man of the match.
Dear Union Community,
I am sharing with you a letter which I wrote to my son earlier this year.
The letter is deeply personal and sharing it is not something that I do lightly. I have been writing to him regularly over the past few years, as I do for my daughter, and giving him advice for his life.
I do this because a letter is something personal and tangible and I hope that he will keep the letters that I write him, as, while they may not be very valuable to him now, one day he will treasure them. This will be especially true in a time after I am no longer alive when he will long for my counsel and advice. I have encouraged him to keep them in a file in a safe place. One day they will be important to him.
This particular letter is about dating and how to treat a girl or woman. I share it now in light of the terrible events that have recently taken place in this country that have caused us all to look at ourselves and our national culture of violence, and the way in which we treat women. I hope that in sharing this letter, I will encourage you to speak to your own children about how they conduct themselves, and particularly our boys and young men.
Talk to your children, guide them, spend time with them. It is the most important investment that you will make in your life.
William Pringle – Headmaster, Union High School
Dear James
An expert used to give teenage girls this piece of dating advice: guys aren’t ready to date until they’re twenty-five years old.
I thought it was a bit extreme and harsh towards the boys. However, it certainly made those girls think before they were swept off their feet by a teenage boy only to be hurt deeply later. It also made me think about what I want my son to know about dating.
Dating is a good way to develop maturity and understanding of the sacrifice needed for a long-lasting relationship. It’s an opportunity for you to learn how to treat another person and think selflessly.
Here are 10 pieces of dating advice for you.
Don’t do it to be cool or because other people are. Don’t be pressured into dating because of expectations. A lot of guys don’t date much or at all in high school, and that’s fine. Often, guys who begin dating at a later age have healthier relationships with girls because they have developed more maturity and self-assurance than they had at a younger age.
Have courtesy for others. Holding the door for her and walking her to her car at the end of the night are thoughtful and communicate respect, which naturally leads into the next point.
If you develop a reputation for treating poorly or saying inappropriate things about even one girl, I can assure you many girls will hear about it. This most likely will hurt your chances of other girls wanting to be your friend or date you. Your reputation will always precede you. Protect it.
Before entering a relationship, take the time to write out or think about the characteristics you’d like your wife to have. Look beyond right now; consider yourself in 10 or 15 years. What do you see your life looking like then? What will be your priorities then? This will really help you when pursuing relationships. It’s good to have friend relationships with girls outside of a dating relationship. That’s more time for you to learn about girls and what your preferences are without being in a relationship.
Women want men to show initiative. Call them to talk or ask them out (Ask them out well in advance of the date night). Take responsibility for what to do and come up with ideas based on what you think she would like. Suggest a plan but be flexible if she has some different ideas.
Talking about the relationship, establishing boundaries, and determining the intensity and pace of the relationship are your responsibilities. Don’t neglect to do it, even if the girl is being more assertive in driving the relationship.
Girls like it when they know you spent time thinking about them, and a creative date shows a lot of care. Girls especially like it when there are good opportunities for casual conversations on a date.
Good relationships are marathons, not sprints, and many relationships start out too quickly and intensely to last. You can’t run a marathon at full speed. In the early stages of the relationship, resist the urge to talk every single day, to see each other at every opportunity, and to kiss and say “I love you” too soon. Your relationships will be much more likely to thrive and survive.
When you’re in a relationship, it is easy to get tied up with the other person. All other relationships begin to lessen, and the one with your girlfriend becomes your priority. However, if you and your girlfriend break up, who will be there to support you? Besides, it’s good to hang out with your friends and grow in relation with them too. After you’ve planned a date with your girlfriend, be sure to make time for your friends. Or go out as a group frequently.
Remember that you are with someone’s future wife. You do not want to do anything that would damage her future relationships. You would not want a guy doing something inappropriate with your sister. Keep that in mind as you are dating and make sure the relationship does not turn sexual. You don’t want that baggage for either of you.
Your Dad.
The learners at Union High School were surprised with a visit from Casual Day mascot, Able, earlier today, Thursday, 5 September.
Accompanied by Mrs. Karin Marais, Able used the opportunity to tell the kids all about the Graaff-Reinet Protective Workplace, known as ‘Boundless’ – a non-profit organisation for adults with disabilities. Able also spoke to the learners about people with disabilities hoping to shape the children’s future attitudes and actions toward people who live with ongoing health conditions or disabilities.
Lastly, Able encouraged the learners to support the Casual Day campaign tomorrow, Friday, 6 September, by purchasing a sticker for only R10.
Union’s Grade 6 learners set off on their annual excursion to Kirkwood this morning, Monday, 2 September.
Upon their arrival at the African Imprint Outdoor Centre on the banks of the Sundays River, the fun immediately got underway with the group of experienced facilitators putting the learners through their paces in a variety of tasks which test their agility, skills, perseverance and team spirit. We hope the learners enjoy the next couple of days and make lasting memories!
Union’s Grade 6 learners are having a muddy ball on Day 2 (Tuesday, 3 September) of their Kirkwood excursion.
DAY 3
The Grade 6s are on their way home after an action-packed couple of days in Kirkwood.
Before hitting the road, however, they managed to fit in a quick early morning rowing session.
